Greetings to all family and friends! Thanks for continuing to take the time and read my newsletters. It brings joy to my heart knowing that you guys are part of the Calvary Moyobamba team with your prayers, messages, and letters of encouragement.

Those Amazon rains!

In the Peruvian jungle, there is no spring, summer, fall or winter. Rather, there is the rain season (November-March) and the non-rain season. Throughout February and March, I have never seen so much constant and heavy rain in my life! It has eroded roads, delayed trips, flooded jungle communities, kept people at home, and interrupted prayer meetings (Imagine loud drops pounding on a thin tin roof).

The roads keep narrowing after every heavy rain! Some driver wasn’t so fortunate.

All of that being said, the sky showers keep God’s beautiful creation green and lively!

Adjusting to being more alone

Jesús had been with me for 1 year and 3 months. We lived together, started the church together (with 2 others as well), and have seen God transform peoples lives. A truly amazing run together. He is a great worker, faithful friend, and I love him. In January, he returned to Trujillo to start the next phases of his life: marriage and a church plant in Chile. Very exciting! Please keep him in your prayers.

Jesús and I moving a stove into the church

Jesús showing love to our neighbor Alejandro at church service.

That being said, Jesús leaving has been a lot more difficult to adjust than I thought. I used to think it would be wonderful to live alone, having peace and quiet. Yet, I miss his presence at the apartment. The older I get, the more I long to spend time with other Christians and be with people. I believe that it is God doing this work in my heart.

Therefore, I am being more intentional with the people that God has placed in my life in Moyobamba. This includes inviting people over for meals, playing soccer, and painting together. In this, quality time together has increased and friendships have been deepened.

I made American hamburgers and french fries for my friends Ronald and Lili at my apartment. They are special, as I met them at the very first church service on October 15, 2023! Once every week or two, I will invite different people from church over to my apartment and prepare something for them. Just like in Jesus’ days, eating food is a way to connect and enjoy time with others.

The guys from church playing soccer right after Wednesday service. I am normally one of the last people picked, and my team normally loses. But I am getting better!

People from Calvary Moyobamba painting right after Sunday service service. An opportunity to spend more time together as a church family.

January was a tough month!

There has been lots of adversity in January. Although there was intense pressure and tedious trials, I understand that it is part of the ministry. God is getting me through with His mighty hand, and I am finding a lot of encouragement through the scriptures, as well as a helpful phone call from one of my pastors. Zechariah 4:6 has really ministered to me, as it reads “‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.” Meditating on this day by day has given me a peace of heart and great perspective.

Victorious Christian Service

This year, the Lord has put on my heart to REALLY focus on discipleship. We are going to start a Saturday evening group, which will be a study through the book “Victorious Christian Service” by Alan Redpath. It focuses on the book of Nehemiah in the Bible, and topics such as leadership, serving God, prayer, opposition, and much more! Please pray for edifying conversations and spiritual growth. As of now, there are 14 signed up.

Baptisms and pool water on the church floor

February 16th was certainly a day to remember. Axl and Eros just finished painting the church around 9pm, then stayed to assemble and fill up the pool for the baptisms. With our narrow hose and medium water flow, it was going to take all night! So they watched it fill until midnight, then I came at 3am to finish the job. There happened to be several drunks passing through the streets and stumbling by the entrance of the church in the dark night, so I waited in secret until they finally wandered off. Then I opened the church gates and doors to check the pool progress. To my surprise, the pool was empty and water covered much of the floor. “Asu!”, as they say in Peru which means “Oh my!” Lo and behold, there was a little hole somewhere at the bottom that I couldn’t find.

Long story short, I was able to slow down the leak and fill the pool again, JUST enough to submerge someone. Praise God, there were about 12 people that arrived later in the morning to help me finish up. In spite of the extra work, flooded streets from the rain, and tiredness, it was easily one of my favorite days here in Moyobamba. There was joy, hugs, and lots of family support, as Patrick and Dayanna were baptized and want to continue following Jesus.

Patrick, myself, and Dayanna wet, yet happy right after the baptism.

Prayer requests

For Jesús’ preparation for marriage and the next church plant

For God to raise up or send more help in the ministry

For spiritual growth and unity in the discipleship group

Praise reports

God’s strength through the many attacks

Increased fellowship among the brothers and sisters at church

God’s Word is speaking to many through the Wednesday services in Exodus and the Sunday services in 1 John.